Rigathi Gachagua launches a crusade against local leaders accused of abandoning their starving constituents despite receiving billions in devolution funds.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ignited a political firestorm with his vow to hold Northern Kenya’s leadership accountable. In a blistering attack that has ruffled feathers from Garissa to Mandera, Gachagua accused the region's elected officials of living in luxury in Nairobi while their constituents waste away from drought and neglect.

This intervention disrupts the comfortable silence surrounding the paradox of devolution in the North: massive funds versus persistent poverty. It challenges the local elite to account for the billions of shillings sunk into the region since 2013. The former DP's crusade is not just political posturing; it touches on a raw nerve—the palpable disconnect between the colossal budgets allocated to these counties and the squalid reality on the ground. He asks the uncomfortable question: If the money is there, why are the people still hungry?

The Missing Billions

Gachagua’s sentiments were unexpectedly bolstered by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, a prominent figure from the region. The "Grand Mullah" took to social media to validate the claims, alleging that nearly Sh1 trillion has been pumped into the region with little to show for it. He painted a damning picture of leaders who treat county coffers as personal bank accounts, investing the loot in Nairobi real estate while their villages lack basic water and healthcare. This rare alignment between Gachagua and Ahmednasir signals a shifting tide in public opinion.

The former DP has announced a tour of the region, promising to bypass the leaders and speak directly to the people. "I will go to them," he declared. "I will ask them where their money went." This "people-first" strategy is designed to incite a grassroots awakening, turning the electorate against the absentee landlords who claim to represent them. It is a high-stakes gamble that could either liberate the region from bad governance or plunge it into clan-based political warfare.

• The Nairobi flight: A key accusation is that governors and MPs from the North operate remotely, flying into their counties only for photo opportunities. This "helicopter leadership" has alienated them from the daily struggles of their people, creating a vacuum of empathy and service delivery.
• The Drought Crisis: The backdrop to this political drama is a biting drought that has decimated livestock and livelihoods. Gachagua argues that the suffering is man-made, a result of the failure to plan and invest in resilience despite the availability of funds.

A Reckoning Arrives

The defensive reaction from Northern Kenya leaders has been swift and fierce, dismissing Gachagua as an outsider meddling in local affairs. However, the accusations have stuck. The conversation has moved from "marginalization by the national government" to "marginalization by our own sons." It is a narrative shift that threatens the survival of the region's political establishment.

As Gachagua prepares for his tour, the dusty towns of the North are bracing for a showdown. The era of silence is over. The people, emboldened by these high-profile accusations, are starting to ask the hard questions. For the leaders who have long hidden behind the veil of historical injustice, the spotlight is now firmly on their own track records. The reckoning has arrived, and it promises to be unforgiving.